Deck 2: The Ethics of Ghosting

Question 1

Nicole Dular talks about men's response to women's rejection in dating as one instance of misogyny. In your essay, explain what she means by "misogyny" and identify another example of misogyny in action. Given what Dular thinks about ghosting, what might she say about how women should respond to your example? Be specific, drawing from parts of Dular's essay to address the situation you've identified.

Answer 1

Reproduce and explain Dular's definition of the term "misogyny."
Offer an example that accurately fits this definition of misogyny, and that is not simply another instance of men responding to women's rejection in the context of dating.
Successfully apply at least one of the concepts that Dular introduces in her essay to the problem that the author has identified in order to show how such a response would combat this instance of misogyny.

Question 2

Nicole Dular says: "It is morally permissible for someone to take actions that would prevent them from experiencing undeserved harm." In your essay, come up with a case that might pose a problem for this claim. How would the claim need to be qualified to deal with your case? Then, explain how Dular might respond to this objection.

Answer 2

Successfully develop and defend an objection to the claim that "It is morally permissible for someone to take actions that would prevent them from experiencing undeserved harm."
Outline a response to this objection that serves as a defense of Dular's position.

Question 3

Nicole Dular argues that ghosting as silence can act as a way of blocking misogyny. In your essay, explain what "blocking" means and why Dular argues that it can be a morally praiseworthy act. Do you agree that blocking is "crucially important as a response to bigoted speech?" Why or why not? Develop an example that supports your argument.

Answer 3

Reproduce and explain Dular's definition of the term "blocking."
Either argue that blocking is a crucial response to bigoted speech.
Or, argue that blocking is not a crucial response to bigoted speech.
Offer an example that helps to illustrate the author's argument.

Question 4

Which of the following best captures Dular's thesis?

A) Ghosting is always morally impermissible
B) Ghosting is always morally permissible
C) Ghosting is permissible when certain conditions are met
D) It is morally permissible for women to ghost men
E) It is morally permissible for men to ghost women

Question 5

Dular proposes three common responses that men have to women's rejection. Which of the following is NOT one of those responses?

A) Physical violence
B) Guilt Tripping
C) Denigration
D) Argumentation
E) None of the above

Question 6

Which of the following is the definition of "misogyny" that Dular employs in her essay?

A) Historically, a system of domination where women used to suffer because their rights were restricted
B) The belief set that men are biologically superior to and morally better than women
C) An idea created by feminists that helps to explain the problems and injustices that women currently experience
D) Dislike of, contempt for, or ingrained prejudice against women
E) A system that functions to uphold male dominance by punishing women who violate patriarchal norm

Question 7

What does "objectification" mean?

A) A person is treated as an object, in the sense that they are viewed as having the same moral status as inanimate entities
B) A person is treated as an object, either in the sense that they can be used to satisfy others' desires or that they have no desires of their own
C) An object is treated as a person, in the sense that it is seen as having equal or greater value than a human being
D) Some object or person is used for the sole purpose of bringing pleasure to the person using that thing or person
E) The expression of something abstract, like sounds or images, in a concrete form

Question 8

When a man demands emotional labor from a woman, this is an example of ________:

A) Denigration
B) Guilt tripping
C) Physical violence
D) Objectification
E) Argumentation

Question 9

Dular argues that ghosting can be seen as a form of what two things?

A) Denigration and objectification
B) Blocking and gaslighting
C) Empowerment and coalition building
D) Self-protection and resistance
E) Empowerment and resistance

Question 10

Dular suggests that there is an analogy between ghosting and ________:

A) Getting a vaccine
B) Inflicting a wound
C) Carrying pepper spray
D) Calling for help
E) Riding a stolen horse

Question 11

If someone were to want to engage in the linguistic act of blocking after hearing, "I've named this horse James Bond," which of the following would be an act of blocking?

A) Simply saying, "No"
B) Forwarding a logical argument against that claim
C) Shaking one's head
D) Asking that the speaker repeat themselves
E) All of the above

Question 12

Dular argues that there are cases where a speaker's remarks are not even deserving of a response.

Question 13

Dular argues that in a perfect world, ghosting would be an accepted part of dating relationships.